If Gov. Phil Scott rejects the budget, House Minority Leader Don Turner (R-Milton) told reporters, “We stand ready to support and sustain a veto.” More than 30 of his caucus members lined up behind him in the Statehouse’s Cedar Creek Room.
All but one had voted for the budget when it passed the House, so why the turnabout? Republicans are now insisting that Democrats include Scott’s 11th-hour proposal to negotiate a statewide teacher health insurance plan in the budget bill.
Democrats have said they don’t have time to vet the plan, unveiled last Thursday, and they dispute the claim that this is a now-or-never opportunity.
Scott claims the state could reap up to $26 million by taking over negotiations this year. Several members of his administration watched the press event from the back of the room. Spokesperson Rebecca Kelley refused to say whether Scott would actually veto a budget that doesn’t include his health insurance proposal.
Rep. Peter Fagan (R-Rutland), who played a key role developing the budget as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, explained his change of heart at Friday’s press conference: “I don’t want to leave millions, if not tens of millions, of dollars on the table. We need to return that value to the taxpayers who have supported our teachers for such a long time.”
“The timing may not have been ideal but it’s here,” added Rep. Heidi Scheuermann (R-Stowe). “Let’s buck up, get our hands dirty, and figure it out.”
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Any Legislator who feels there isn’t enough time to get the statewide teacher’s healthcare contract across the finish line does not deserve a seat in that building. This is a no brainer. They have fanagled less important initiatives through the the legislative whirlpool in less time. Hell, if you need to stay a few days longer, $26 million savings a year is worth it!!! Mitzi Johnson and Tim Ashe are letting Vermonters down. #VTNEAbuysvotes
I cannot believe this liberal progressive is rooting for all the republican legislators in Vermont. It is a sad turn of events when I find myself supporting our republican governor and republican legislators who are desperately trying to enact a brilliant plan that will save taxpayers a huge amount of money. Please call your legislator, it is disgusting to watch my elected democratic and progressive representatives work harder for the NEA lobbyists than they do for Vermonters. School boards need help fighting the NEA’s endless demands and a statewide contract is an excellent solution to lowering our property taxes.
Vermont pays more per student than any other state in the nation. Vermont democrats, why are you doing nothing to address this serious problem? The teachers demand more money each year to teach fewer students. This only makes sense in the offices of the VT NEA accountants. Thank you republicans for doing the right thing and standing up to the teacher’s union, and shame on all the democrats for their political cowardice.
Makes you wonder how many of these democrat liberals are getting a KICK BACK ???? Need to get these out of staters liberals who call themselves Vermonters out of office..they are proving they are only looking out for themselves = the liberals.. They don’t give a damn about TRUE Vermonters..just keep raising the taxes..What happened to the wonderful state of Vermont..?? Oh yeah the liberals moved in and took over.. All they care about is getting the Vermonters out and make Vermont nothing but a Tourist state..they care more about the tourists then the Vermonters.. WAKE UP… TAKE BACK VERMONT !!!!! We have become a welfare state, why work when you get more money on welfare..The socialists and liberals haven’t done anything for Vermont except for themselves..